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Apr 30, 2014

Commercial Portrays Dad with Poor Babywearing Technique

As a dad of two boys who were breastfed almost exclusively
while they were infants (they both literally went from boob to sippy cup), I often used
baby wearing as a way to provide a nurturing presence while also deepening my
bond with them. Some of my fondest memories with the kids have occurred while
one of them was strapped to either my front or by back and because of that, baby
wearing as a whole holds a special meaning to me. I always enjoy showing love
to any fellow dad I see wearing their baby out and about in public by either
flashing a smile or a head nod of acknowledgement.

It makes me
especially happy to see it being practiced in the media, as it is a reflection of
just how much men carrying their children have increased in popularity and it has
become more culturally acceptable. Yesterday however, I saw something on TV
that really bothered me. It was AMEX/Real Simple commercial with a father
incorrectly holding their baby in a carrier incorrectly. Here's a screenshot:

There are so many things wrong with this picture. First, the tpye of carrier the father is wearing is clearly is designed for the baby to be facing him, not outward. Secondly, the strap on the father's left shoulder Is halfway off, which results in the baby not getting proper support. Both of these things are dangerous and can cause potential harm to both the baby as well as the dad.

On the surface, some might think this really isn’t a big deal. After all, it's just a commercial, right? But here’s
why you should care:

1.It makes dads look bad- Having this father wear
that baby with such poor technique kind of perpetuates the stereotype of the
clueless, bumbling dad that that the media seems to be so fond of portraying.

2.It’s a safety issue- Although we can safely
assume that most dads are capable to properly wear their child, there might be
other who don’t. What if someone tried to emulate the commercial? When done incorrectly, risk of injury dramatically increases
for the baby as well as the parent.(Study: http://www.continuum-concept.org/reading/spinalStress.html)

So all in all, the “heart” of the commercial was in the
right place. The fact that the company showed a dad baby wearing says something
about their progressive thinking. The benefits from baby wearing are one of the most enjoyable experiences about being a parent, but it is important that you first educate
yourself on proper technique to keep everyone safe. Please take a moment to check out this link,
which is an awesome guide on how to wear your baby correctly.(www.babywearinginternational.org/pages/safety.php
)